Amb. Enikanolaiye Leads Nigeria’s Delegation To ECOWAS-AES Talks In Dakar
By Stephen Adeleye
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye, is currently in Dakar, Senegal, leading Nigeria’s delegation to the first round of discussions between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
This is contained in a statement signed by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Oluwafemi Adeniyi, on Saturday in Abuja.
According to the statement, the high-level meeting, which commenced on Friday, Oct. 16, marks a significant step in the ongoing diplomatic efforts to restore regional cohesion and preserve the gains of regional integration.
Adeniyi said the primary objective of the first round of discussions was to prepare and align the strategic positions of ECOWAS member states and facilitate targeted and structured talks with the AES.
He said the talks, at both ministerial and technical levels, were aimed at addressing shared regional issues comprehensively.
“It is expected that at the end of this round of engagement, there would be concurrence on the draft General Framework Agreement between ECOWAS and AES member states,” he said.
He added that the agreement would be ahead of the forthcoming end-of-year Summit in Abuja in December 2026.
Adeniyi said Nigeria, as a key founding member of ECOWAS, remained committed to the principles of regional integration, peace and security.
He said the presence of the minister underscored Nigeria’s dedication to ensuring that the exit of the AES member states did not negatively impact the age-long cultural and geographical ties between West African countries.
